Ultrasound-assisted alkaline water electrolysis in a membrane-separated H-type cell: a device-scale benchmark under galvanostatic operation

Original scientific paper

Authors

  • Zeng ChenHongWen School of Mechanical Engineering, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6349-7687
  • Teoh Yew Heng School of Mechanical Engineering, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1524-5214
  • Heoy Geok How Department of Engineering, UOW Malaysia KDU Penang University College, Batu Kawan Campus, PMT755, Persiaran Cassia Barat 3, Bandar Cassia, 14110, Simpang Ampat, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2069-7952
  • Mohamad Yusof Idroas School of Mechanical Engineering, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3505-7659
  • Thanh Danh Le College of Technology and Design, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), 59C Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Xuan Hoa Ward, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Viet Nam https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0855-2091

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5599/jese.3133

Keywords:

Electrochemical water splitting, sono-electrolysis, device-scale benchmark, hydrogen production

Abstract

Reported benefits of ultrasound in alkaline water electrolysis remain difficult to compare because apparent gains can be influenced by thermal drift, inconsistent energy-accounting boundaries, and differences in reactor geometry. Here, we provide a conservative benchmark of ultrasound-assisted alkaline water electrolysis in a small, membrane-separated H-type cell operated galvanostatically in 2.0 M NaOH at 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 A. Silent electrolysis, low-amplitude ultrasound, and high-amplitude ultrasound were compared over a unified 300 s window while maintaining the catholyte near the hydrogen-evolving electrode at 32-34 °C. Under these tightly controlled conditions, ultrasound produced small but consistent device-internal effects: collected H₂ output increased by about 1 %, purity-corrected Faradaic efficiency remained essentially unchanged at around 66 %, and the average cell voltage decreased by approximately 0.09 to 0.29 V, corresponding to a 1.6 to 2.1 % reduction in specific electrical energy consumption on an electrolyzer-electrical basis. These results are most consistent with relief of bubble-related and near-electrode transport losses, rather than the emergence of a new reaction pathway or a large change in intrinsic reaction kinetics. At 1.0 A, varying ultrasonic amplitude further indicated a practical operating window in which moderate ultrasound minimized electrolyzer-electrical SEC, whereas higher amplitude maximized instantaneous hydrogen throughput but caused visible graphite-anode degradation in the present geometry. The present results, therefore, do not establish a full-system energy benefit; instead, they provide a conservative, device-internal benchmark for assessing when, and to what extent, ultrasound may remain useful under rigorously controlled conditions. Future studies should extend this framework to reduced-gap cells, advanced electrodes, and full system-level accounting that explicitly includes acoustic power and balance-of-plant loads.

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Published

12-05-2026

Issue

Vol. 16 (2026)

Section

Electrochemical Engineering

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Copyright (c) 2026 Zeng ChenHongWen, Teoh Yew Heng, Heoy Geok How, Mohamad Yusof Idroas, Thanh Danh Le

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Ultrasound-assisted alkaline water electrolysis in a membrane-separated H-type cell: a device-scale benchmark under galvanostatic operation: Original scientific paper. (2026). Journal of Electrochemical Science and Engineering, 16, Article 3133. https://doi.org/10.5599/jese.3133

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